Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History
Benson Lossing, Ed.

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Fish, Nicholas 1758-1833

Military officer; born in New York City, Aug. 28, 1758; studied law in the office of John Morin Scott, and was on his staff as aide in the spring of 1776. In June he was made brigademajor, and in November major of the 2d New York Regiment. Major Fish was in the battles at Saratoga in 1777; was division inspector in 1778; and commanded a corps of light infantry in the battle of Monmouth. He served in Sullivan's [373] expedition in 1779; under Lafayette, in Virginia, in 1781; and was at the surrender of Cornwallis, behaving gallantly during the siege. For many years after 1786, Fish, who had become lieutenantcolonel during the war, was adjutantgeneral of the State of New York, and was appointed supervisor of the United States revenue in 1794. In 1797 he became president of the New York State Cincinnati Society. He died in New York City, June 20, 1833.